---
"Under anesthesia?"
Forensic doctor Robert Miller was stunned.
"If the murderer anesthetized the victim and then staged the hanging to make it look like a suicide, all the pathological features would align perfectly with a suicide," Jake Stone explained.
Captain Harris nodded. "Let's conduct a toxicological analysis on the victim's blood. It should confirm if there's any trace of anesthetics."
Dr. Miller stared at Jake in disbelief. He hadn't even considered the possibility of the victim being anesthetized before the staged hanging. Yet, this young man, barely in his twenties, had thought of it.
"Are we sure this guy is just a college student?" Miller muttered to himself.
The surrounding officers exchanged glances, equally impressed and bewildered.
"The guy Captain Harris brought in is extraordinary… His analysis is spot on. Did he study anatomy or something?" one officer whispered.
"Did you notice how Miller was caught off guard for the first time? It's insane!" another added.
"Honestly, I've trained in the police academy for years and worked several crime scenes, but I've never analyzed a body that thoroughly. Some people are just born for this," an older officer said with admiration.
"Let's see how he performs moving forward. If he catches the murderer, I'll gladly respect him," another chimed in skeptically.
---
Two Hours Later
At the crime scene, Jake Stone leaned against the wall, carefully reviewing the case file the police had compiled.
The victim's name was Sarah Adams, a sophomore in the art department at UCSF. Because of her natural beauty and charisma, she was often referred to as the "class sweetheart" and had a long list of admirers.
Police interviews with Sarah's classmates painted her as a kind and approachable individual who rarely had conflicts with others. However, her three roommates provided vague and detached responses, stating they didn't interact much with Sarah despite sharing a dorm.
Just then, Captain Harris returned from a phone call, tapping Jake on the shoulder. "The toxicology report just came in. As you suspected, traces of ether were found in the victim's blood. She was indeed anesthetized before being hung."
Jake nodded lightly, as if the confirmation was expected. Around him, the officers erupted in murmurs.
"Incredible… I thought he was just throwing out wild guesses, but he nailed it!"
"Who is this guy, really? He's just too good."
"Alright, settle down," Harris commanded. "We've done enough on-site investigation for now. A small team will remain here to search for additional clues, while the rest of us will head back to the precinct. We'll regroup in the conference room in half an hour."
"Understood!" the officers responded in unison.
---
Municipal Police Department Headquarters
The bustling city of San Francisco housed one of the most advanced police departments in the state. The conference room was a spacious, well-lit space capable of accommodating large teams for critical discussions.
At this moment, the room was filled with uniformed officers, all waiting for the briefing to begin. Captain Harris sat at the head of the table, a large projection screen behind him. The atmosphere was tense but focused.
The door creaked open, and all eyes turned to see Jake enter, his calm demeanor commanding attention.
"Sorry, needed a quick break," Jake said casually as he slid into the seat next to Harris. "Let's begin."
Harris nodded and rose to address the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's review the case."
He pointed to the projection screen, which displayed images from the crime scene.
"Last night at approximately midnight, Sarah Adams, a sophomore at UCSF's art department, was found hanged in the second-floor restroom of her dormitory. Initial findings suggested suicide, but further analysis has revealed this to be a premeditated murder."
The screen shifted to display photos of Sarah, her pale face illuminated by the dim light of the restroom.
"The victim was anesthetized before being hung, creating the illusion of suicide. This is a calculated, malicious act."
Harris clicked the laser pointer, bringing up photos and profiles of students who had interactions with Sarah. He stopped at an image of a young woman with braided pigtails.
"This is our primary suspect," Harris announced. "Her name is Emily Carter, one of Sarah's roommates. Both are in the same year and department."
Harris explained, "One week prior, Sarah accused Emily of stealing $100 from her desk drawer. Emily denied the accusation and responded with hostile comments, escalating into a heated argument that nearly turned physical. The dorm supervisor had to intervene to de-escalate the situation."
The next slide revealed screenshots of social media posts and text messages from Emily, hinting at resentment and possible revenge.
"These communications suggest a motive," Harris concluded.
The room buzzed with discussion as officers analyzed the emerging details. Jake, however, remained silent, his sharp eyes scanning the profiles and data.
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